Fire-fighting system and apparatus



E. J. SULLIVAN FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.24, 1963 Filed Jan. 25. 1961 ATTORNEYS Sept. 24, 1963 E. J. SULLIVANFIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1961INVENTOR. [dd/4rd J. 62:10am

A K OREEYS 4. A (g l /r United States Patent 3,164,720 FIRE-FIGHTlhIGSYSTEM AND APPARATUS Edward James Sullivan, Chicago, Ill, assignor ofhuehalf to Mary Margaret Hanson, Chicago, Ill. Filed Jan. 25, 1961, Ser.No. 84,948 8 Claims. (Cl. 169-25) This invention relates generally to afire-fighting system and apparatus and more particularly relates to apenetrating device having a driving end and an entrant end, as well as apassage extending through the interior of the device with means forconducting a combustionretarding gas through the passage so that thedevice may be penetratingly driven by hand or with some suitablepower-assisting means through any enclosing surface of a building suchas a wall, ceiling or floor to discharge a fire-fighting fluid into theenclosure. Specifically, the device maybe driven through the roof orceiling of a burning architectural structure, thereby to fill the top ofthe building \m'th combustionretarding gas.- A conflagration is but thedevelopment of a small fire. A study of the great fires in history showsthat on certain conditions, or a combination of circumstances, have oneach occasion permitted a small individual fire to spread. Thepossibility of a fire spreading and developing into a conflagration isfrequently associated with the presence or the absence of a wind.However, a conflagration creates its own convection currents and wind asit gains in volume, which adds to the difiiculty of confining adisastrous fire. Every appliance devised whereby fires are confined tothe seat of outbreak is a step forward in the progress of fireprotection.

One characteristic of fires which I have observed is that the gases ofcombustion which are at extremely elevated temperatures rise towards thetop of any architectural structure in which a fire has started untilchecked by some 'baflliug provided, for example, by the roof or ceilingof the structure. At this point, the hot gases of combustion spreadlaterally.

Thus, in a typical fire, a small quantitative amount of fire maysuddenly result in a fire of huge proportions when the hot gases ofcombustion flare up and set the roof or the upper portion of thebuilding aflame, whereupon the additional burning portions fall downthrough the building and thereby contribute to the overall destructionof the building.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, it isproposed to utilize a combustion-retarding gas such as steam. Theordinary application of steam to a fire would actually increase thesupply of oxygen to the fire, thereby contributing to the blaze.According to the present invention, however, it is contemplated that apenetrating tool provided with the principles of the present inventionwould -be extended through the roof or ceiling of the 'building,whereupon a fire-retarding gas such as steam could be supplied to'thetop of the building through the penetrating tool, thereby to create ablanket of fireretarding gas across the top of the building andpreventing ignition of the adjoining parts and spread of the fire. It isan object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improvedfire-fighting system and method utilizing improved fire-fightingapparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfire-fighting system and apparatus wherein water damage is minimized andwherein spreading of small fires into conflagrations is prevented.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire-fightingsystem and apparatus which promotes safety for the fire-fighters andmakes the effective control of a fire more probable.

Many other features, advantages and additional ob jects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanyingsheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of afire-fighting system and apparatus, by means of which the methods of thepresent invention may be practiced, is shown in an illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic view partly in cross-sectionillustrating a fire-fighting apparatus in accordance with the principlesof the present invention in use in extinguishing a fire in a typicalarchitectural structure;

FIGURE 2 is a broken elevational view partly in crosssection andsomewhat schematic in part illustrating a penetrating tool incorporatingthe principles of the present invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing an alternative formof the penetrating tool construction.

As shown on the drawings:

A typical building or architectural structure may be considered asconstituting a large box. For example, in FIGURE 1, a typical buildingis shown generally at 10 and takes the form of a large box-shapedstructure having outside surfaces 11 enclosing a plurality of smallerboxes which, in the schematic illustration of FIGURE '1, represent roomsor floors. For example, there is shown iWlilllIl the enclosing surfaces11 a plurality of separate spaces including a lowermost space '12, aseries of intermediate spaces 13 and an uppermost space 14, each havinginterior wall surfaces 16, as well as a floor 17 and a ceiling 18.

In addition to the outside surfaces 11, the typical building orarchitectural structure is usually provided with a roof herein shown at19. The space that remains between the uppermost compartment or space 14and the roof 19 is represented by a so-called cock loft or attic shownat 20. The building is usually characterized also by one or morevertical passages, for example, such vertical passages as may besupplied by venting conduits, grease chutes, elevator shafts, pipes forthe passage of utilities, ventilating shafts and other through passages,all of which may be typified by a vertical passage illustrated in FIGURE1 by the vertical passage 21.

Skilled fire-fighters generally recognize that a small fire such as thefire represented at 22, if set in any of of the individual spaces 12, 13or 14 would seldom spread to serious proportions because ventilationcould easily be accomplished by breaking windows, or breaking throughthe surfaces 11 and the walls 16 for the purpose of entering with a hoseline. The fire could then be quickly extinguished by reducing thetemperature of the combustible material below the ignition point.

It is Within the vertical passages, however, that fire generally doesits greatest damage. Thus, a typical fire in a lower portion of abuilding or architectural structure such as the building 10 is likely tocarry hot gases of combustion up one or more of the vertical passagestypified by the passage 21, whereupon the hot gases .of combustion willcontinue to flow upwardly'until bafiled by the roof enclosure.Accordingly, an accumulation of extremely hot gases of combustion islikely to occur in the cock loft or attic 20, just below the roof l9.Atthis point, the hot gases of combustion spread laterally covering theentire top of the building 10.

It is often difiicult to adequately ventilate a space such as the cockloft or attic 2t and the fire-fighters might be required to open askylight or chop a hole in a roof such as the roof 19 which has possiblybecome weakened by the progress of the fire.

The fact that the space such as the cock loft or attic 20 is difficultto ventilate is advantageously exploited-in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention v V 3 i and the characteristic of afire to spread in the manner described is counteracted by the presentinvention through the use of a combustion-retarding gas such as steam.

Thus, a fire-fighting vehicle such as a truck 22 is provided and isequipped with a retractable boom, includ ing a lower section 23, anupper section 24 and an operators basket 26. The upper and lower boommembers 23 and 24 are pivotally interconnected as at 27 and are alsopivotally connected to the vehicle 22 as at 28. I Hydraulic actuatingmeans 29 operable from a control station in the basket 26, or by asecond set of controls at ground level permit the boom sections 23 and24 to be positioned up or down, right or left, in or out, thereby toposition the basket 26 in any desired relationship to a building, suchas the building it) in which a fire 22 is present.

The boom parts 23 and 24 carry piping for supplying water to theplatform and it will be understood that the boom is also provided'withpower means including a power takeolf 30 at the platform 26, which canbe used in accordance with the principles of the present invention todrive a penetrating device shown generally at 31. .By way ofillustrative example, the power take-ofi 30 may conveniently comprise anair drill or some other rotatably driven prime mover. The penetratingdevice 31 can take several forms and two illustrative embodiments aremore clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the penetrating device shown generally at 31 inFIGURE 1, constitutes an elongated device having a driving end 32 and anentrant end shown generally at 33. In the specific embodiment of FIGURE2, the entrant end 33 constitutes a twist drill having a plurality ofribs 34 and flutes 36' 'helically wound at a rake or helix angle 37. Thetwist drill has a point 38 and a cutting lip 39. In accordance with thisinvention, the body of the twist drill which extends over the flutelength may be slightly tapered, terminating in a neck portion shown at40. Extending longitudinally from the neck 40 is the shank 41 which isconnected to the driving end 32. If the device is to be driven by apower t-ake ofl such as an air drill, as illustrated at 31 in FIGURE 1,it is convenient to form the driving end 32 with a Morse taper 42,thereby forming a coupling for connection to a rotatably driven spindle43.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, thepenetrating device 31 is formed with a passage 44- having an outlet 46formed in the fluted portion of the entrant end 31. To provide an inletfor the passage 44, the shank 41 has a boss 47 formed thereon in whichis formed an inlet 48. Suitable coupling means are provided forconnecting a conduit 49 to the inlet 48. In this specific form of theinvention, the coupling conveniently takes the form of a coupling sleeve50 having a shoulder 51 engaging a flange 52 surrounding the inlet 48, asealing ring 53 being interposed between the shoulder 51 and the flange52. A bayonet slot 54 permits a quick connect and disconnect attachmentto be made to the conduit 49, it being understood that the conduit has apin 56 which enters the bayonet slot 54 and is received in a lockingportion of the bayonet slot 54, as shown at 57.

The conduit 49 could be connected to a conduit forming part of the boommechanism, if it were desired to conduct a supply of steam orcombustion-retarding gas via the boom, however, if it is desired to makethe connection and then use the boom 23, 24 in some other location, aseparate conduit 49 may be led to a steam generator shown at 60. Thesteam generator 60 may be of a type which is commercially available andconstitutes a portable steam generator capable of producing live steamatspecified pressures in a short period of time.

The penetrating device shown generally at 31 could also take the formillustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein an elongated member is shown at 61having a sharpened point portion 62 formed with an outlet 63 at one endof a passage 64. The other end of the passage 64 is 4 connected to aninlet formed in a boss 66 the shank of the penetrating device 61. I

The point 62 constitutes the entrant end of the penetrating device 61.At the other end there is provided a driving end shown at 67 formed-inthis instance with an impact surface 68 by means of which thepenetrating tool attached to may be driven by a hammer or sledge, asshown at 69.

The boss 66 again cooperates with a coupling connec tion identified withthe same reference numeral as previously applied for connecting aconduit 49 attached to a source of combustion-retarding gas such assteam so that the gaseous material may pass through the passage 64,through theoutlet 63 and into the space, such as the cock. loft or attic20.

While the use of steamon buildings in the way that Water is normallyused would not be practical because the st of steam would actuallyincrease the supply of oxygen reaching the fire and thereby contributeto the blaze, with the resultant offsetting of the cooling effect of thesteam vapor, the present invention, in effect, results in a completesegregation of the top of the building by a blanket ofcombustion-retarding gas. Accordingly, even if, hot gases of combustionrise to the cock loft, they are pre vented from spreading laterally. Thesource of the tire being localized, and the risk of spreading beingchecked the fire-fighters can then concentrate on locating andextinguishing the actual source of the fire. i

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2, it is contemplatedthat means can be provided on the f shank 41 for securing the device inplace when it is drilled through the Wall or ceiling of the building 10.In this connection, note that the shank 41 is formed with tapered screwthreads 70 extending upwardly from the neck 40 but terminating short ofthe inlet 48.

In operation, the twist drill formed on the entrant end 33 will form ahole 71 inrthe wall or ceiling of the roof structure 19, whereupon thetapered screw threads 70 will engage the edges of theopening 71, therebyto axially advance the penetrating device through the roof 19 andoperating to securely hold and retain the penetrating device in placewith the outlet 46 communicating with r the interior of the cock loft20.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention;

1. In combination, a fire-fighting vehicle, an extendible boom on saidvehicle tobe raised and lowered, a plate form on the end of said boomfor carrying an operator, a rotatable power take-off on said platform,and a rotatable penetrating tool for being drivingly connected to saidpower take-01f, said penetrating tool comprising an elongated memberhaving an entrant end formed as a twist drill, an intermediate shank portion having external screw threads formed thereon for engaging the edgesof a hole drilled by said entrant end, and a driving end forming acoupling for connection to said power take-off, said penetrating tool,having con duit means connected thereto and forming a passage extendingthrough the interior of. said penetrating toolsfor conductingcombustion-retarding gas from, a source at n creased pressure to theinterior of a structure penetrated by said tool.

2. In combination, a fire truck having a foldable boom for selectiveextension towards the top of an architectural structure, penetratingmeans on the end of said boom comprising a penetrating tool having adriving end, an entrant end and a passage extending through the interiorof said tool, and means for conducting a combustion-retarding gasthrough said passage, whereby said foldable boom may be employed toposition said penetrating means for penetration of a ceiling in aburningarchitectural structure,

thereby to fill the top of the burning architectural structure withcombustion-retarding gas. 1

3. Fire-fighting apparatus comprising a penetrating tool including anelongated member having an entrant end and a driving end, by means ofwhich said entrant end may be driven through the ceiling or wall of anarchitectural structure,

said tool having a passage extending longitudinally therethroughincluding an outlet opening near the entrant end of the tool forcommunicating with the interior of a space enclosed within the structureand further including an inlet near the driving end of the tool forcornmunicating with a source of combustion-retarding gas exteriorly ofthe architectural structure, and conduit means including a quickdisconnect coupling for connect- :ing the penetnating tool to a sourceof combustion-retarding gas, said penetrating tool having anintermediate shank portion formed with fastening means inwardly of saidentrant end to engage the ceiling or wall after the tool has beenpenetratingly driven therethrough. 4. Fire-fighting apparatus as definedin claim 3, said fastening means comprising helically formed screwthreads by means of which said tool is threadedly advanced through andengaged with said ceilim or wall after penetration of said ceiling orwall by said entrant end. 5. Fire-fighting apparatus comprising apenetrating tool having a driving end, an entrant end, and a pass-ageextending through the interior thereof, and means for conducting acombustion-retarding gas through said passage, whereby said tool may bepenetratingly driven through the roof or ceiling of a burningarchitectural structure, thereby to fill the top of the structure withcombustionretarding gas,

said driving end comprising a chuck coupling for connection to arotatable power source, and said entrant end comprising a twist drill.6. Fire-fighting apparatus as defined in claim 5, said penetrating toolhaving a shank portion formed with external screw threads inwardly ofsaid entrant end to engage the edges of an opening drilled by said twistdrill. 7. Fire-fighting apparatus as defined in claim 6, said passagehaving an opening in the fluted portion of the twist drill and having aninlet opening out of one side of said penetrating tool towards thedriving end of the tool. 8. A device for injecting steam or othergaseous material into a building involved in a fire comprising a twistdrill having a hollow shank formed with an inlet at an upper end of thedrill and an outlet opening out of the fluted portion at the lower endof the drill said shank having tapered screw threads formed bebetweenthe inlet and the outlet inwardly of the fluted portion at the lower endof the drill to secure the device in place after it has drilled inpenetrating relation through the wall or ceiling of the building.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN COMBINATION, A FIRE-FIGHTING VEHICLE, AN EXTENDIBLE BOOM ON SAIDVEHICLE TO BE RAISED AND LOWERED, A PLATFORM ON THE END OF SAID BOOM FORCARRYING AN OPERATOR, A ROTATABLE POWER TAKE-OFF ON SAID PLATFORM, AND AROTATABLE PENETRATING TOOL FOR BEING DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID POWERTAKE-OFF, SAID PENETRATING TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING ANENTRANT END FORMED AS A TWIST DRILL, AN INTERMEDIATE SHANK PORTIONHAVING EXTERNAL SCREW THREADS FORMED THEREON FOR ENGAGING THE EDGES OF AHOLE DRILLED BY SAID ENTRANT END, AND A DRIVING END FORMING A COUPLINGFOR CONNECTION TO SAID POWER TAKE-OFF, SAID PENETRATING TOOL HAVINGCONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED THERETO AND FORMING A PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGHTHE INTERIOR OF SAID PENETRATING TOOL FOR CONDUCTINGCOMBUSTION-RETARDING GAS FROM A SOURCE AT INCREASED PRESSURE TO THEINTERIOR OF A STRUCTURE PENETRATED BY SAID TOOL.